Day 4 Cold Water Classic Canada: Heats 1-4
Tuesday October 12 North Chesterman Beach - Devries Back in Form!
If Peter Devries was tired and not surfing well (his words) yesterday, today he put that behind him and surfed like a champion. “I got a wave in the first couple of seconds,” said Peter. “It was nice to get that start going and feel comfortable right away. Local knowledge definitely helps,” he said. “Drawing Kekoa (Bacalso) on mushy beach break is probably a little easier than drawing him on big waves - and Stu (Kennedy) too.” Devries looked right at home on the waves today which is just what the crowd was hoping to see. Cheers went up as the heat finished and Devries advanced on to the next Round of 24.
Not so lucky to make the cut were former World Tour competitors Kekoa Bacalso and Tim Reyes as well as Stuart Kennedy (CWC Tasmania winner and current leader in the CWC Series), Yadin Nicol, Dion Atkinson, Tim Curren and Heath Joske (2009 CWC California runner up).
On a more positive note, there was plenty of impressive action heating up the water today as the 6 Star ASP competition soared through to heat 8 in the round of 48. However whilst water temperatures are higher this year than last – around 13 degrees centigrade - Florida native Cory Lopez was taking no chances, dressed head to toe in rubber. “There is no way the cold water is going to touch me,” said Cory who advanced to the round of 24. “I have boots gloves, a hat – I cannot feel the water at all and I am definitely warm right now.”
His attire was in stark contrast to that of Julian Wilson who downsized his suit to a 3.2 and removed his gloves. “I’m not cold out there,” said Julian. “But I am catching loads of waves to keep warm, and I got that good wave out there because of that.”
